Local commitments solid to Vols despite Dooley departure

Josh Smith and Brett Kendrick are still enjoying Christian Academy's big 38-36 win over Alcoa in the TSSAA Quarterfinals.

Both are committed to play football at the University of Tennessee. Both found out this morning Derek Dooley would no longer be the Vols head coach.

Smith is a receiver and safety in high school and Kendrick is an offensive lineman. Both say they are firm in their commitment to Tennessee.

While Smith said he was not even looking at other schools, Kendrick said he visited Clemson last weekend and might visit Virginia Tech next weekend to keep his options open.

"It's scary," said Kendrick about the possibility a new coach might not honor the scholarship offer made by Derek Dooley and his staff. But Kendrick also said he thought the Vols had assembled a good recruiting class and he expected to be playing at Tennessee.